“We really are in dire straits and we have to get the money in because if we shut down we will never start again.

“We would like local businesses and funding bodies to come forward and help us keep going.

“We just need support for the next six months and we are confident we can generate the rest.”

He added that Reading Refocus was a “unique black-led organisation” because it is the only one in the town that targets hard-to-reach young people who find it impossible to work with other agencies.

The charity’s recent successes have included helping a 14-year-old alcoholic girl get back on track – she is now awaiting her GCSE results.

Another young man who had a history of crime went to Reading Refocus for help. He has now completed his first novel and is planning his second.

The group receives the bulk of its funding from the National Youth Justice Board, Reading Borough Council and the National Probation Service.

It needs £200,000 a year to run, but receives minimal regular funding with special grants awarded to individual three-year projects.

This means that when a project runs out, so does the money.

The charity is hoping to secure at least £60,000 in grants from organisations such as Comic Relief and the European Social Fund but these are still being processed.

Mr Sweeney, who started in his post four months ago after two senior managers left over the summer, said financial mis-management had never been an issue but understaffing had become a key factor in the current crisis.

And he is now pleading for 10 local benefactors to come forward with £5,000 each to ensure the charity’s short-term survival.

Those 10 would then form a core for the consortium, which would control the group’s long-term financial future.

Reading Mayor Richard Stainthorp has put his support behind the charity’s plea for financial help, saying it would be “a great shame” if it were forced to close.

“The time that Reading Refocus and other groups have to spend on chasing funds is regrettable,” he added.

“I would certainly join them in their pleas for help.

“The young children they are helping seem to be benefiting in a very positive way.

“These are absolutely the sorts of people we should be reaching out to help and make into better citizens.”

n If you can help or for more information about Reading Refocus, call (0118) 950 9945.